In the almost 600-metre-high rock face of the Gonzenhaupt is an iron mine that was probably already in use in Roman times, called the “Erzloch” (Ore Hole) by the people of Sargans. It was still in operation until around 1870. A dwarf, a benevolent mountain spirit who announced any danger in good time, ruled the mines.

When the miners were working in un-minable rock and the opening of new, better ore veins was imminent, it happened: while they were sitting unsuspectingly in the miners’ house eating, loud footsteps echoed from the mine, over the rocks and up the wooden stairs, as if thirty or more workers with heavy, iron-shod shoes were approaching. The miners jumped out, but nothing could be seen or heard.

In about 1852, the miner Martin Hobi of Heligkreuz (Holy Cross) was working with his brother Christian on a wooden scaffold in the “clay pit” above an eerily deep shaft. Then the dwarf began to throw small stones at them, very gently at first, but then more and more furiously, so that at last they thought it advisable to leave their post. No sooner had they reached a safe place than the scaffolding collapsed and fell into the horrible depths with a terrible crash.

J. Natsch.

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Das Bergmännli im Erzloch

In der beinahe 600 Meter hohen Felswand des Gonzenhauptes befindet sich ein wahrscheinlich schon zur Römerzeit benutztes Eisenbergwerk, von den Sarganserländern “Erzloch” genannt. Es wurde bis um das Jahr 1870 immer noch betrieben. In den Gruben waltete das Bergmännlein, ein wohltätiger Berggeist, welcher jede Gefahr rechtzeitig verkündete. Wenn die Knappen in unergibigem Gestein arbeiteten und die Öffnung neuer, besserer Erzgänge bevorstand, geschah es, während sie ahnungslos im Knappenhaus beim Essen sassen, dass vom Bergwerke her, über die Steine bis auf die hölzerne Stiege, laute Tritte erschallten, als ob dreissig und mehr Arbeiter mit schweren, eisenbeschlagenen Schuhen sich näherten. Die Knappen sprangen hinaus; aber nichts war zu sehen und zu hören.

Ungefähr im Jahr 1852 war der Knappe Martin Hobi von Hl. Kreuz mit seinem Bruder Christian in der “Lehmgrube” über einem schauerlich tiefen Schachte auf einem hölzernen Gerüste am Arbeiten. Da fing es an, kleine Steine nach ihnen zu werfen, anfangs ganz sachte, dann aber immer toller, so dass sie es endlich für ratsam hielten, ihren Posten zu verlassen. Kaum waren sie an einem sichern Orte angelangt, so stürzte das Gerüste zusammen und unter schrecklichem Gepolter in die grausenhafle Tiefe hinab.
J. Natsch.

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Editor’s note: In this collection of stories you will see “Bergmannli” (Berg – Mountain, Mannli – small man), “Wildmannli” (“Wild” – Wild, Mannli – small man), and Zwerg (Dwarf). They all appear to be the same kind of mountain spirit in keeping with the classic gnome or dwarf archetype found across alpine and Germanic folkore, but they could be different because in the stories Bergmannli and Zwergen appear mainly underground in mines and Wildmannli inhabit the surface alpine pastures and mountain slopes protecting/herding chamois. A further complication are the stories about Venetians who come to mine or collect gold from the mountains, they are also sometimes described as “Mannli” and sometimes as magicians. It’s futile to look for consistency in folklore but it is fascinating to see the evolutions and overlaps between different archetypes and tropes.